Language Fails examines painting’s intrinsic qualities where written language falls short. Offering up different modes of production, Language Fails explores the way we see images in the advent of screen technology, and how painting fits into this world.

This international group of painters met in Daniel Richter’s class, entitled Expanded Pictorial Space, at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. They are all interested in painting as more than a reproduction of reality or simply creating an image. Competing with other notions of image production and information giving, painting is truly in its own realm: more present and multifaceted. From shared interests and a shared studio experience, each painter brings an individual approach to their own practice, and Language Fails offers a swell of diverse possibilities for painting.

Laura Hinrichsmeyer ‘protects herself from floating around in the endless space of potentialities’ by imposing a series of rules in the studio in order to begin. She is interested in what a painting can generate for the spectator in an omnipresent visual information-world.

Anna Rettl also lays down rules with a limited range of colour alongside restrictive format or technique. The limitations aim to set up situations that enable a high level of decisive intent. It is also essential for Rettl to be surrounded by people and engage in conversation. For her, this is half of painting.

Anna Schachinger tries to get as far away as possible from the computer and internet and thus responds to these technologies through avoidance. Drawing and painting from observation and an involvement with the materials, together with interactions between people, are at the centre of what painting is to her; poetic and resonating with mythic narrative imagery.

Isaac Willis uses painting as a method of research and enquiry directly into the relationship paint has to on-screen technologies. His paintings stand as part visualized research and part painterly paintings, reflecting this new age of image culture that is dominated by screen technology.